SMART LEG MOVEMENT STIMULATOR DEVICE
A leg movement stimulator device for use while sitting. Other embodiments of leg movement stimulator device include leg gliding mechanism (12) to allow simple exercise for user while simultaneously performing other sedentary activities, and extension function (13) for width adjustment, and a diversified movement mechanism (22), (22a) for joints and small muscles stimulation, and data generating and communicating mechanism (30), (30a), (31), (33) with user's smart electronic devices is also available for user's convenience in tracking and monitoring the movement activities. Other embodiments include chair fixing mechanism (14), (14a) to hold the device from moving, and stepper mechanism (11a), (11b), (22a′), (22b) and varied track direction (12c) for diverse exercise of the user.
This application generally relates to exercise and therapeutic device which communicates with smart electronic devices, specifically to a leg movement stimulating device with alternative leg exercise and ankle angle variations for use while being seated.
BACKGROUND ARTNumerous medical studies and news articles have reported how the extended sedentary lifestyle has become a serious threat to our health in general, especially closely connected with death risk increase, diverse cancer risk increase, diabetes risk, blood circulatory difficulties and obesity. To prevent such negative health influence, it has become popular to stand instead of sitting at the office or during meeting time. However, it is not the sitting itself that is bad, but the prolonged immobile posture that is maintained while sitting, and continued standing also has its own side effects such as joint fatigue, varicose veins and leg swellings, as some doctors mention.
Numerous exercise devices which provide exercise function while sitting at an office chair or simultaneous performance of physical exercises and office work have been introduced, usually by attachment of the device to either a desk or a chair, or a seat with a built-in exercising function. The following examples are of typical prior art to this field of endeavor.
Most prior art describe devices that have rather limited range of movement, exercise capacity, or is applicable only for a limited type of chair or are too bulky to use under conventional office desks. Moreover, considering that the majority users would use these devices in the office where the furniture belong to the company, easy installation and removal without damaging the office furniture is important while requiring small space for diverse office circumstances. Prior arts which satisfy such requirements either have weak resistance on the pedal bearing or require the user to replace the whole chair itself, as the chair has built-in exercise system. Otherwise, some prior art describe devices that may be used in offices but require additional time for exercise, instead of simultaneous exercise with conventional office work such as computer or phone conversation.
Health related studies show that exercising the lower body, such as thighs where large amount of muscles are formed, burns more calories while it also prevents deep-vein thrombosis, varicose vein and other blood circulatory troubles, thus is especially recommended for people with extended stationary or sedentary work. Efforts to solve such exercise deficiency issue with more efficient and effective lower body movements for office workers have lead to the following prior art examples.
Although above-noted prior art propose most compatible exercise with existing office furniture, few concerns are raised with the cycling system, as when one pedal is low, the opposite one rises, elevating the knee level. This may lead to the knee hitting the desk, in case not enough desk height is secured. Chair-holding system could also limit the user's usual motions at the office, such as moving with the chair or swinging to another direction, since the chair-holding device is stationary to a fixed position.
Technical SolutionAccordingly, an aspect of the present invention involves a compact device for promoting leg movements and pedals with various angle changes that allow stretching especially calves and ankles while being seated and doing other tasks simultaneously, and to connect the sensor collected data to users' smart electronic devices through communication module.
Advantageous EffectsAdvantages of this application of one or more aspects are to provide an easy movement of legs in multiple directions, maximizing muscle movements without damaging or replacing existing furniture, and to assist stretching diverse leg muscles by changing the angles of the ankle which simultaneously stimulates lower-body muscle movements. Other advantages of one or more aspects are to provide simple sliding movements which make it easier to move and use for prolonged period of time without getting tired, helping blood circulation and calorie burning. This application describes device which also comprises of sensors that sense collect the movement data, which communicates with the user's smart electronic devices to monitor and promote more movement, allowing activities such as, but not limited to, exercise goal setting, smart device controlling with feet movement, display user's activity history.
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
Most preferred embodiment of a smart leg movement stimulator device (1) is shown in
The main body composition (10) serves as the base to locate the pedal tracks (12) which facilitate the movement of the pedal composition (20), and provide slope angle for movement resistance force using gravity among other forces. Although not illustrated, other sliding resistance force may include using, but not be limited to, springs, magnetic force, friction, liquid and air.
The two pedal compositions (20) may each be composed of pedal main surface (21), pedal heel slip lock (21a), pedal size adjustment composition (21b), pedal base (22), pedal connector lever (22a), pedal track connector (23) and one or more pedal track roller (23a).
The main body connection body (13) may be composed of an attach-and-detach method from the main body height support (11a) on both ends to minimize the smart leg movement stimulator device's volume when moving, packing or fitting under small space, preferably with width adjustment function for user's convenience as shown in
As illustrated in
The sensors may be located in various locations of the smart leg movement stimulator device (1) as shown in
Claims
1. A smart leg movement stimulator device comprising:
- a. a main body composition having a pedal mechanism providing means to slide,
- b. resistance means on said pedal mechanism, and
- c. a control mechanism having sensors collecting movement data from said pedal mechanism and communicating said data with smart devices,
- whereby said device allows substantial exercise of lower-body in limited space, and provide movement promotion with movement data displayed on smart devices.
2. The smart leg movement stimulator device of claim 1, further including:
- a. a sloped surface mechanism of said main body composition for sliding said pedal mechanism,
- b. a width control mechanism having a connection means on the said main body composition, and
- whereby said sloped surface mechanism provides natural resistance for sliding, and the width control mechanism provide the user to adjust the said leg movement stimulator device to user's comfort.
3. The smart leg movement stimulator device of claim 1, wherein the main body composition includes means of height altering mechanism upon pressure that allow the user to use the said smart leg movement stimulator device for stepping exercise.
4. A pedal composition of smart leg movement stimulator device providing:
- a. means of pivotal pedal mechanism of multidirectional pedal angles,
- b. a direction variation mechanism of horizontal twist of the pedal,
- whereby said pedal methods allow the user to diversify leg and ankle exercise.
5. The pedal composition of claim 4, further including
- means of elastic mechanism providing vertical resistance on said pivotal pedal mechanism so that the users may diversify the exercise intensity upon pressing down the pedal composition.
6. The pedal composition of claim 4, wherein the pedal surface has means of inflating so that when pressure is given on one side, the opposite side changes in height and pressure to stimulate the foot sole.
7. The pedal composition of claim 4, further including pedal sliding means to freely move over conventional floor.
8. The pedal composition of claim 4, having means of sensors, micro controller unit and communication, to collect the sensor generated data for communicating with smart devices.
9. The smart leg movement stimulator device of claim 1, further including additional sensors for location and pressure, and the control mechanism collects the location and pressure data of the pedal composition, and communicates the collected data with smart devices.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 8, 2018
Applicant: CTL CO., LTD. (Seoul)
Inventor: Julee KIM (Seoul)
Application Number: 15/771,045